Murray Fish

how they voted on that spurs article Do you think we should continue to allow spurs at the races? Yes 171 votes No 84 votes

a long read on Spurs in Au " Banned in the UK, France, Ireland and the USA, spurs are still commonplace in Australian racing, raising questions about both welfare and perception. Exploring the issue, we spoke to two industry insiders at the top of their games, and draw on evidence from the wider equine world too. There are two rules governing the use of spurs according to Racing Australia: - AR 125 Riders permitted to use blunt and approved spurs Riders may use spurs provided they are blunt and of a type approved by Racing Australia, a PRA, or the Stewards. - AR 134 Excessive, unnecessary or improper use of spurs In a race, official trial, jump-out or trackwork, or elsewhere, a rider must not use his or her spurs in an excessive, unnecessary or improper manner. The Thoroughbred Report reached out to each of Australia’s PRAs to ask about their view of the rules, whether the issue of perception over spurs has been raised within their state and the history of enforcement of the rules. Sadly just two responded. A Racing Victoria spokesperson said: “Riders in Victoria are required to adhere to the Australian Rules of Racing that govern the use of spurs. If a rider uses his or her spurs in an excessive, unnecessary or improper manner this will be considered by Stewards. “We have had no recent breaches of AR134 in which action has been taken in Victoria.” Meanwhile, Thoroughbred Racing Northern Territory (TRNT) Chairman of Stewards David Hensler explained: “TRNT Stewards enforce the Rules of Racing pertaining to the use of spurs. We regularly check spurs on race days, at barrier trials and in track work. In the last 10 years we have had no rider breach either AR125 or AR134.” The inside line Even for those experienced in the breeding side of the industry, the choice to use spurs may still be a mystery - is it a jockey's preference or a trainer’s instruction? Do they make much of a difference? We spoke to one of Sydney’s leading jockeys, Tommy Berry, to get an idea of exactly what goes on behind the scenes. “Sometimes it can be up to either,” Berry said. “I know if I've watched a replay of a horse and he looks quite laid back, he misses the start, just needs a little bit of a wake up before he goes into the barriers, I'll put spurs on.” Tomy Berry | Image courtesy of Sportpix “I'm not someone that ‘kicks’ in a race, so if I wear spurs in a race it's really not going to affect the horse at all because I can't use them. “Myself, James McDonald and a lot of other jockeys are in the same boat - the only time I can really use spurs is to just give them a little bit of a wake up to make sure they're switched on before they go into barriers.” “Otherwise, they're pretty much pointless for us. Whereas someone like Nash Rawiller, Brenton Avdulla or Regan Bayliss, they wear spurs quite often because they can kick quite well.” Berry described the tradeoff between jockeys that ride shorter and those that ride longer. In his assessment, whilst three-quarters of jockeys, the likes of he and McDonald included, utilise their balance to be more effective in a finish, others encourage their mounts with a kicking motion. There’s no clear answer here as a number of elite jockeys fall into each camp, with Berry concluding that different styles suit different horses. Just how much the spurs are used during this kicking motion in a race finish is hard to discern. Given a jockey’s crouched position, it’s hard to see how a jockey could point their feet outwards to bring the spurs into contact with the horse. And, if they did make contact during vigorous race finishes, surely we would see at least the occasional marking or rubbing of a horse’s flanks, causing an infraction of the rules. Noting that he’s never once called before the stewards for any spurs-related infractions, Berry added: “It's not something that you overuse - I've never ever done it to hurt a horse. You don't turn your heels out and give them a big kick up the ribs, it's just running it along their skin a little bit. “I think it's important to state as well, that breakers often use spurs to help guide the horse along. So, when you get to a race it’s often not the first time they’ve been introduced to spurs.” Laying the foundation A former elite event rider, Blair Richardson runs Vantage Hill, a race educating and pre-training establishment utilised by many of Australia’s top trainers. Speaking to TTR AusNZ, he described spurs in the context of his work as ‘controversial’ in the sense that he’s highly selective about using them so early on in a horse’s education. “We break in probably 250 to 280 horses a year,” Richardson said. “Probably most of them we don’t put spurs on to start with. “Obviously, we want to teach them to be light off the leg and educate them. The need to go forward off your leg is the main thing in educating a horse.” “Whether you're riding a racehorse, a cutting horse, a jumping horse, a dressage horse - they all must be ridden off your leg, that's the main thing.” As Richardson explained, the use of spurs during the initial stages of a thoroughbred’s life is purely about education - an extra tool to teach them something fundamental - as opposed to an aid to get the most out of them on race day. “There's some that won’t go past a gap or are a bit negative, then we put a set of spurs on and it's all to do with the rider's leg to hand coordination,” he said. Blair Richardson | Image courtesy of Vantage Hill “You’ve got to be careful too, there's a lot of fillies that can be backward and a set of spurs can have a reverse effect, so it’s tricky. “If you have a horse that won't go, you're often better off to pony it along, look after it to get it to go, rather than using force and an artificial aid. “When you're dealing with 18 month old horses, it's not about force, it's got to be an educational process.” The evidence As in the first piece in this series, we consulted leading equine scientist Dr David Marlin to find out what the science says. Click here to read Focus on welfare: a common sense approach to racing in hot weather Marlin confirmed that there has been little research on the use of spurs, with a particular paucity around their use in racing. One study of Danish competition horses points to a picture of spurs being more likely to cause damage (hair loss and in rare cases bleeding) to horses at lower competition levels, whilst another from the UK found that FEI affiliated riders were 10 times more likely to use spurs than leisure riders, but that was still only 60 per cent of them. It’s hard to be confident, but perhaps this suggests, as Richardson inferred, that the choice to use spurs is not as simple as ‘fine for the professionals’. Regardless, Marlin pointed out an even more salient point, that may in time change the debate in Australia. Dr David Marlin | Image courtesy of Dr David Marlin He noted that thermal imaging was behind the drive to change whip design towards the modern iteration, and that if the as-yet-unstudied impact of spurs in racing was similarly visible then it could have a big impact on the welfare debate. A price worth paying? The question remains: Would Australian racing be missing out much if spurs were banned tomorrow, given it’s the only racing nation to allow them? “I think it would definitely affect Australian racing in some way and that's because they’ve been around for so long and are obviously working in some way,” Berry said. “For myself, if a horse isn't jumping out of the barriers properly and they're a bit laid back then it does definitely help to give them a bit of a wake up before they leave the gates, just so they know it's game on. “It's not about hurting them or anything like that, because it doesn't. It's just a little bit of a tickle to wake them up and say, ‘You're about to go, put your game face on.’ “I find it good as a tool for that, if I know a horse has come out a little bit slow on the pace.” But, this must surely be balanced against the perception issue that spurs present us with. Whilst their use is little discussed within the industry, and they often pass punters unnoticed on race day, spurs offer a target for animal rights activists, who attempt to frame the metal fixtures on jockey’s heels as a regular weapon of torture against our beloved thoroughbreds. This view might sound blatantly preposterous to those inside the camp, but it’s easy to see how such framing can be effective to those who don’t know how they’re actually used. Given that racing elsewhere around the world doesn’t seem to suffer for a lack of spurs, we have to ask whether it’s a price worth paying. We want your opinion! Do you think we should continue to allow spurs at the races? Yes No If you have any welfare topics that you believe should be explored, or opinions you would like to offer, please reach out to editorial@ttrausnz.com.au and let us know. Welfare Spurs Edition Article

but can in Au? " In Australia, riders can use spurs in racing and other events if they meet certain conditions, including: Using blunt spurs that are approved by Racing Australia, a PRA, or the Stewards Not using spurs in an excessive, unnecessary, or improper manner "

with spurs?

"the future here now" ps, it will be interesting to know there thoughts on add extra gear! and data and science behind their actions of using said gear!

pre auction, I liked the other one, only went for 675k talking expensive colts, TA lining up a interesting one on Saturday at pukee

fascinating insight into the Maher stable https://www.racing.com/videos/2024-11-20/life-on-mahers-episode-1

hopefully sincerely given!

just use his posts to practice mindfulness

have a look at them prerace, in their prelim and then around at the start! without that I Never place a bet!

(speaking to oneself!) What I learnt is what I knew, Racing, especially NZ, is drifting more and more behind when it comes to having a presence in the digital world, very much so when it comes to things History...

wow, I wonder how that will play out for the trainers that own properties in and around those places???

are there any precise handicaps in nz? if its not a precise handicap then is it a non-precise handicap?

what a progressive little club they are! deserve more respect!

lol! we do have a lot of naïve enthusiasm though! sigh! and plenty of sycophantic brown nosing as well! wow behold any '' realpolitik!

Using ChatGP, started with: "how many winners has Michael Pitman trained in NZ?" ChatGPT said: ChatGPT Searched 5 sites “Michael Pitman total winners trained New Zealand” bing.com Racing News NZ — Pitman chuffed with latest milestone | NZ Racing News racingnews.co.nz Racing News NZ — Michael Pitman on training his 2000th NZ winner loveracing.nz Loveracing — Miss Tycoon Rose sets special mark for Pitman | NZ Racing News racingnews.co.nz Loveracing — Pitman eyes landmark Saturday at Riccarton loveracing.nz Loveracing — Epee Beel brings up special milestone for Pitman loveracing.nz Michael Pitman, a renowned horse trainer in New Zealand, recently celebrated training his 2,000th winner in New Zealand with the victory of Epee Beel in April 2024. This milestone adds to his illustrious career spanning over four decades, primarily based at Riccarton. Michael Pitman and his son Matthew operate as a team and are well-known figures in South Island racing Racing News NZ Loveracing Loveracing . Let me know if you'd like more details about his career or significant achievements! 4o You said: more details plesae ChatGPT said: ChatGPT Michael Pitman is a legendary figure in New Zealand horse racing, recognized for his outstanding achievements over a career spanning four decades. Based at Riccarton, Pitman operates in partnership with his son, Matthew, and together they have created one of the most successful training operations in the country. Career Highlights: 2,000 Career Wins in New Zealand: Achieved in April 2024, marking him as one of the most prolific trainers in the nation's history. This milestone reflects his consistent success and deep involvement in the industry Racing News NZ Loveracing . South Island Icon: Known for dominating the South Island racing scene, Pitman has been a key player at Riccarton Park, where many of his top wins have been achieved Loveracing . Cancer Survivor: Despite battling bowel cancer in 2018, he has continued to achieve at the highest level, demonstrating remarkable resilience Loveracing Loveracing . Group 1 Success: Pitman has won numerous high-profile races, including prestigious Group 1 events, which are the pinnacle of the sport. His horses are known for their competitive spirit and versatility Loveracing Loveracing . Training Style: Pitman is admired for his hands-on approach to training and his ability to maximize the potential of his horses. He is also known for spotting value in underappreciated thoroughbreds, turning them into winners, such as Epee Beel, purchased for just $5,000 Loveracing . Contribution to the Racing Community: Beyond his personal successes, Pitman has been a vocal advocate for the racing industry in New Zealand, helping to promote and improve the sport in the South Island. Would you like details about specific horses he's trained or key races he has won? 4o You said: yes please ChatGPT said: ChatGPT Searched 5 sites Michael Pitman, a prominent New Zealand horse trainer, has achieved remarkable milestones in his career. He surpassed 2,000 total career wins, making him one of only a few trainers in New Zealand to reach this level. His success includes notable horses like Enzo’s Lad, a two-time winner of the Group 1 Telegraph Handicap, who also represented New Zealand at prestigious international events like Royal Ascot and the Hong Kong Sprint Racing News NZ Racing News NZ . Pitman is known for his resilience, battling life-threatening bowel cancer while continuing to train successfully. He and his son, Matthew Pitman, have forged a strong training partnership, securing over 400 wins together as a team Loveracing . Their stable has a reputation for longevity and success, even with older horses like El Chico, who won major races at an advanced age Racing News NZ . Would you like to know more about his significant wins or horses? 4o You said: yes ChatGPT said: ChatGPT Notable Horses Trained by Michael Pitman Enzo’s Lad: Achieved back-to-back victories in the prestigious Group 1 Telegraph Handicap in 2018 and 2019 at Trentham. Represented New Zealand internationally at Royal Ascot in the UK and the Hong Kong Sprint, showcasing Pitman's skill in preparing horses for global competition. Enzo’s Lad provided significant inspiration for Pitman during his battle with bowel cancer Loveracing Racing News NZ . El Chico: A veteran galloper trained by Pitman, El Chico demonstrated the Pitman stable's expertise with older horses, winning major races like the Pegasus Stakes and the Group 3 Stewards' Stakes at Riccarton as an 11-year-old Racing News NZ . Sensei: Another standout from Pitman’s stable, Sensei captured notable wins, including stakes races, further adding to the trainer's accolades. Significant Achievements: Group 1 Victories: The Group 1 Telegraph Handicap is one of the highlights of Pitman's career, solidifying his reputation as a top-tier trainer in New Zealand. 400 Wins with Son Matthew: In partnership with his son, Matthew, the Pitman stable has flourished, reflecting the strength of their collaboration Loveracing . International Representation: Preparing horses like Enzo’s Lad for races at Royal Ascot and Hong Kong has placed Pitman among the ranks of trainers capable of competing on the world stage Racing News NZ . Pitman’s success is a testament to his adaptability, skill, and dedication to the sport. Let me know if you'd like details on additional races or other achievements! 4o You said: yes ChatGPT said: ChatGPT Here are additional details about Michael Pitman’s career and achievements: Other Significant Horses and Wins Our Boy Ritchie: Achieved multiple wins under Pitman’s guidance, including stakes-level races, showcasing Pitman’s ability to develop and maintain consistent performers. Savvy Coup: While not exclusively Pitman-trained, this high-performing mare was part of Riccarton’s success stories and a testament to the South Island’s contribution to national racing Loveracing . Career Highlights: Historical Wins: Pitman’s first major breakthrough came with his first Group 1 victory early in his career, setting the tone for his subsequent success. South Island Dominance: Riccarton Park has been the site of many of Pitman’s wins, and he has been instrumental in the South Island racing circuit's prominence. 2,000 Wins Club: Joining a rare league of trainers in New Zealand who have trained 2,000 winners is a significant achievement, with Pitman consistently ranking among the top trainers nationally Racing News NZ Loveracing . Recognition and Legacy Cancer Battle and Resilience: His recovery from bowel cancer and immediate return to success is widely admired. His openness about his health journey has made him a respected figure beyond racing circles. Development of Talent: The Pitman stable is known for spotting and nurturing horses from various backgrounds, often taking underappreciated or low-cost horses to Group 1 success Racing News NZ Loveracing . Would you like more on his notable horses, racing philosophy, or a specific part of his legacy? 4o You’ve hit the Free plan limit for GPT-4o. Responses will use another model until your limit resets after 10:05 PM. Get Plus

bollocks!

some interesting comments on prize money.

perhaps for that race??? but very much doubt so for the horses career going forward! I wonder how he would be handicapped if he is taken over to Au?

The Stewards’ Stakes was Mystic Park’s first shot at black-type level, and he had to carry a 59kg topweight against a 16-horse field that was mostly on 53kg.

INANE comes to mind! mrs said "do they get paid to do that!"

going the other way... "“He probably just over-raced a little bit on the first day,” Marsh said. “This time in, he’s feeling better and going better than he ever has before. He might have just got a bit too keen in the blinkers. The blinkers will come off for the Cup."

you can also scroll thought their each start where you can see what gear they had on for each start. I note that it seems all horses seem to have 'approved plates', does that mean there are other sorts???

https://loveracing.nz/raceinfo/53169/meeting-overview.aspx this is for Riccarton, at the bottom of the each race there is a list of 'gear changes' lets say perhaps??? Tokyo Tycoon: Blinkers on then, if you click on that horse you find that.. Current Gear: Approved Plates Blinkers Lugging Bit Nose Band Tongue Tie all that suggesting perhaps??? he has his ongoing problems???